Outlet box



H. V. GOULD Aug. 15, 1933.

OUTLET BOX Filed May 1, 1930 Z n u 1 Z m. .4 1 (/M U.

R & mu m N 0 m m6 0 m n A mmwim' w Patented Aug. 15, 1933 TUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTLET Box Harry Y. Gould, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application May 1,1930, Serial No. 448,846

2 Claims. (01. 247-15) The present invention relates 'to electrical outlet orjuhction boxes adapted to be placed in the wall or ceiling of buildings, and into which the electric lighting wires are led, for the attachment of electrical fixtures. i

The object of the invention is to provide a box for the above purpose, whichwill be especially adapted to permit of ready access to the wiring, for making connections, or the introduction of lights in the circuit, and which can be readily and conveniently installed in various classes of houses.

A further and important object of the invention is to design an outlet box which may be manufactured from a minimum number of sheet metal parts that are adapted to be economically cut from sheet rock, ready for assembling in a simple, easy and economical way, and to so produce a box of relatively lighter construction, yet equally as strong and durable as those now upon the market, and especially to provide a box which can be manufactured more cheaply than' the cupper and other forms of boxes now upon the market. My box, as constructed, is adapted to be made of two principal sheet metal parts which, together with a couple of screws and lugs, comprise all of the parts which go to form the complete box.

The box properv comprises a special shaped bottom portion and an elongated strip from which the sides are formed, after which the said strip and bottom member are assembled and the bottom swedged, to slightly distort its lower engaging edge portions whereby it becomes snugly secured to the bottom. The attachment of one of the lugs before mentioned also serves as a further means for securing the abutting ends of the side strip together.

The invention further resides and consists in,

the construction, novel arrangement and means of securing the parts together as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details or" construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departure from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 4 Like characters of reference have been used throughout the specification and accompanying drawing to denote like or corresponding parts in the several figures, and upon which Fig. 1 shows a perspective view looking into I one of my novel outlet boxes;

correspondingly shaped pockets 10 in the bot- Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of one of the lugs employed in the box for carrying the binding screwsv and also shows a similar lug secured in the abutting ends of the side member;

, Fig. 4 shows a detached plan view of the bottom of the box'shown in Figs. 1 and 2, together with a bottom edge view of the abutting end portions of the side member of box; and

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the elongated side strip as it appears when blanked and ready to be bent preparatory to assembling.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon the drawing, 6 represents the 2 bottom member which comprises a flat sheet metal blank such as may be formed by stamping, and which is of substantially octagonal shape having four relatively long right-angly disposed edge portions 7 and intervening con- 7 necting edge portions 8. Each of three of these edge portions 8 are provided with a single projected lug 9, .which are preferably of corresponding size and form for engagement with tom edge of the side member 11.

The edge 8 shown at the bottom of Fig. 4

is provided with two similar lugs 9a, which are positioned relatively close to each other though properly spaced to enter the pockets l0a-10a, in the end portions of the bottom edge of the side when the strip forming the side is bent around and its ends brought together, in a way to allow the bottom plate to be set in between the bottom edge portions of the side and the lugs of the bottom, to be positioned in the several pockets of the side heretofore mentioned. After the side member has been bent to form, and its ends brought together they are secured by positioning the shanks 12 of the screw lugs 13 in the holes 14, and riveting them as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The bottom is next placed in position, as above described, and the assembled box is then put in a press, the die of which engages the 100 lower, outer edge portion 15 of the sides in a way to press the same inward, slightly rolling it over upon the bottom to close the joint therebetween and firmly secure the bottom and side together.

The two screw-lugs 13 employed in the box are each positioned upon the inner side of the upper edge portion and arranged in opposite relation to each other. These lugs are each provided with a tapped hole 16 to receive a screw 17, and are further provided with shanks 12 for their attachment to the side wall of the box. In this connection it will be seen that the metal strip from which the side is formed is provided with a pair of holes 18 midway of its length and adjacent to its upper edge to accommodate the second one of the screw-lugs 13 while the same strip is provided with a similar hole 14, adjacent its two upper outer corners. It will be seen that in the bending up of the side member these two holes 1414 are brought close together and into alignment one with the other, so as to receive the shank of one of the lugs and whereby the abutting edge portions of the side are firmly secured together, after the said shanks have been riveted down as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. M

The bottom of the box is further provided with screw holes 19 for the attachment of the box and likewise includes suitable knock-out plugs 20 in the sides and bottom, which plugs may be formed simultaneously with the blanking operations, thus avoiding a special operation for thispurpose, as is necessary with other forms of outlet boxes.

A box constructed as herein shown and described can be made from sheet stock in a way to produce a minimum amount of scrap and in a Way to insure asaving in both stock and labor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An outlet box of the character described, comprising a bottom member having spaced apart projected lugs, a side member formed of a single piece bent to form all the enclosing sides of the box and having pockets formed in its lower edge portion to receive the projected lugs of the bottom, the lower edge portions of said side member intermediate of said pockets being pressed in against and under the edge of the bottom to secure the bottom and side members together.

2. An outlet box of the character described, comprising a bottom member having spaced apart projected lugs, two of which are relatively close together, a side member formed with a single piece bent to form all of the enclosing sides of the box and having pockets formed in its lower edge portion, two of said pockets being' relatively close together to receive the closely positioned lugs, the lower edge portions of said side member intermediate said pockets being pressed in against and under the edge of the bottom to secure the bottom and side member together.

HARRY V. GOULD. 

